Report: Advertising in Apple's Maps App Already Next Year
Apple is trying to broaden its service business. The map advertising, planned for some time, is reportedly being implemented soon.
Apple Maps in iOS 26: Here's the new "Visited Places" feature (not yet released in Europe).
(Image: Apple / Bearbeitung:heise medien)
Users of Apple's Maps app, also known as Apple Maps, are pleased that they have not yet been bothered by advertising in the application; the results they see are always generated by the application's ranking algorithm, not due to paid placements. This could change in the future: The company plans to implement plans that have been circulating internally for some time and sell advertising in Maps in the future. This is reported by the financial news agency Bloomberg.
Ad-free was a selling point
Apple has reportedly decided to start displaying ads in Apple Maps, possibly as early as spring 2026. “These efforts are gaining momentum.” The map service is said to be just the first area, and other applications could also feature advertising in the future. Users are unlikely to like this at all; they use the often more expensive Apple hardware partly because they hope that Apple protects their privacy better than Meta, Google, and other companies.
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According to Bloomberg, the plan is to allow restaurants and other businesses to place their location details “more prominently” in the map app's search results for a fee. This is reminiscent of the—in the opinion of many users, not ideal—placement of ads in the App Store. The interface is reportedly intended to be “better” than what Google and other providers offer in their map services. Furthermore, Apple wants to use AI to make “results relevant and useful.” Currently, Apple primarily advertises for itself in its apps and operating systems. Services like AppleCare+, Apple TV, or Fitness+ receive good placements.
Primarily self-promotion so far
For Apple products like the movie “Formula 1,” there was unwanted push advertising from many users. In Apple News: Apple has been selling ads for a long time. It remains unclear whether more advertising in Apple's apps will lead to customer protests.
The company still doesn't annoy Apple TV subscribers with commercials—only its programs are advertised. Other streaming services charge well for ad-free viewing (partially), such as Amazon with Prime. Apple, according to Bloomberg, must ensure that the new advertising initiative does not appear as an “unseemly money grab.”
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